PETA Helps Animals and Their Guardians After 9/11

October 2001

After the two airplanes slammed into the World Trade Center, residents of nearby apartment buildings quickly fled, not realizing that it would be days before they were allowed to return. Others were at work and returned home to find their entry barred.

PETA received dozens of calls from New York City residents, desperate to retrieve animals who they feared were suffering from dehydration, hunger, smoke inhalation, or worse. Countless animals were orphaned in the attack, waiting behind closed apartment doors for loved ones who would never come home.

A special PETA rescue team in New York helped reunite animals with their guardians. We plastered the area with ‘wanted’ posters in order to gather information on animals whose guardians were missing. Rue McClanahan, who lives in New York City, made a special appeal to building superintendents to listen for sounds from animals behind locked apartment doors. “The dearly beloved animal family members of those who died must not become another part of the casualty toll,” she said.

Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights? Read more.